It’s that time of the year when our writers give their takes on the upcoming New York Knicks season.
What were your thoughts on the Knicks' offseason?
Jalen: Masterclass effort on a budget by the front office. Landing Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, and either Landry Shamet or Garrison Matthews on cheap deals solved their biggest need: depth. Their draft products, Mohamed Diawara and Dink Pate, are also good bets.
Omar: They operated on the margins and added players in Yabusele and Clarkson that help to fortify the bench unit. I think letting the core starting five get another year of cohesion was the right move, and having counterpunches with bench options is a great thing to have.
Remi: It was a pleasant surprise to see the front office build meaningful bench talent without much to offer free agents salary-wise. New York feels like a destination again.
Geoff: Given the restrictions of the CBA, I thought Leon Rose did a good job. The Knicks improved their depth and maintained their core. Brock Aller continues to show why he’s an important piece of the Knicks' FO.
Joseph: Overall, I'd give them an A. Given the changes following the Tom Thibodeau firing, the front office went out and hired a seasoned head coach in Mike Brown, along with the biggest issue in the rotation: the bench! Yabusele and Clarkson will bring a spark like no other on a large-market team.
What are you looking forward to most from the new head coach, Mike Brown?
Jalen: It'll be fun to identify new offensive schemes used by different lineups throughout the season. Thibs had some cool wrinkles, but for the most part, everything was predictable. I'm excited to see what Coach Brown comes up with to get Mikal and OG going in particular.
Omar: Definitely the way the offense will look. Under Thibodeau, there was a prioritization of turnover minimization, which led to a lot of Brunson isolation. It feels like Brown will implement more ball movement that will take advantage of the offensive skill sets of KAT especially. That should be fascinating to see unfold.
Remi: I’m split between the pace and the lineups. The Knicks took too long to get into their first action last season, and Thibodeau stuck with the same rotations virtually all season. I want to see speed and versatility this time.
Geoff: Improved 4th-quarter offense. We know Jalen Brunson is still going to get the last shot, but we need to be able to have more movement and other players touch the ball before it gets to Jalen. We’ve become too predictable in the 4th.
Joseph: I'm excited about seeing more of the bench unit come into play and the fast-paced offense that comes along with the starters. Coach Brown emphasized that he wants the team to run and gun; it'll be curious to see how a team that ranked in the bottom five in pace last season performs to a higher standard.
Which player’s stock are you investing the most in?
Jalen: Deuce McBride. Whatever leap exists for his role, I think he'll take it. If he's safe from trades, I might even buy a jersey, finally.
Omar: Mikal Bridges. He was much maligned in his first year as a Knick for his lack of assertiveness. But with this new offense, I think we could see him play-make at spots and find a suitable role in this team. I would expect a much better year from him this year.
Remi: Mikal Bridges made me a believer with his impressive preseason. His stock felt underrated due to the amount of picks New York spent to bring him in, so there was a lot of growth potential even before we saw how Mike Brown will use him.
Geoff: KAT. The Knicks should lean heavily into KAT’s playmaking abilities and have him putting up at least six to seven 3PA’s per game.
Joseph: The talk of the town is the same player I'm choosing, and it's Miles "Deuce" McBride. Continuing his Sixth Man of the Year candidacy, Deuce has been a serious contender for the starting lineup while also establishing himself as a proven point guard off the bench. If he can emphasize his 3-and-D style of play one notch higher, the Knicks shouldn't find issues bringing him in when necessary.
Predict the Knicks’ record. Where will they finish? How far will they go in the playoffs?
Jalen: 53–29, 2nd seed. They'll make the NBA Finals, and if they face anyone other than a healthy Thunder team, they'll win.
Omar: 54–28. I think they will be the two-seed with potential upside to be the one-seed. With the way they have invested and built this team, plus the way that the East has shaken out, making the Finals feels likely.
Remi: 57–25 with a trip to the NBA Finals doesn’t feel like a reach anymore.
Geoff: 53 wins. NBA Finals appearance. I would predict more wins, but I do think it will take time to adjust to MB’s offensive philosophy.
Joseph: The three-peat for another 50-win season appears to be in the season's script, so I'll have the Knicks going 53–29. They'll finish as the second seed once again, and I'll have them making their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
Do you consider the Cavaliers their biggest roadblock to get past, or is it another team in the Eastern Conference that poses a threat?
Jalen: I respect the Cavs, but I'm really looking over my shoulder at the Magic. They have the size and physical athletes to challenge the Knicks. If Franz and Paolo figure out their roles together, I'd hate to have to grind out a playoff series against them.
Omar: The Cavs are the logical roadblock, but I also wouldn't write off Orlando. The addition of Bane could be a big bump for them, plus Paolo Banchero will only get better. If they can finally start hitting some shots, they could be a dangerous team in the conference.
Remi: I’m most concerned about the Orlando Magic. Their stars are still growing, and the addition of Desmond Bane can make them a formidable playoff opponent.
Geoff: With injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, I think the Cavs are the biggest threat.
Joseph: The Cavaliers aren't the big, bad team they once appeared to be, given Darius Garland's initial absence and the bench taking a dip in quality. But I'm actually going to take the Atlanta Hawks as the Knicks' biggest opponent to get through—a team that improved in the offseason with players that are known Knicks killers. Trae Young continues to take up free rented space inside the fans' heads, a tactic that has paid off in past games.
What’s one accolade you want to see any Knicks player achieve this season?
Jalen: I want to see OG Anunoby make the All-Defensive First Team this season. DPOY will be near impossible given the presence of Wemby and Mobley, but he can certainly be a top-five-level defender if the team's defense is good enough.
Omar: OG Anunoby making All-Defense First Team. OG has been one of the best wing defenders in the sport for the last few years, and it would be nice to see him win the award. It's been 13 years since a Knicks player made the team (Tyson Chandler, 2012–13); it's time for another player to make the list.
Remi: I want to see OG Anunoby get a much-deserved DPOY award. I’ve never seen a single defender impact games as much as he does on an almost nightly basis. He deserves all the recognition he can get.
Geoff: DPOY OG Anunoby or Mitchy-no-Snitchy.
Joseph: I'd love to see OG Anunoby make the All-NBA Defensive First Team, being the first player since Tyson Chandler in 2013. Anunoby was notably snubbed last season despite putting up strong numbers, and I don't see the stats or his role changing anytime soon.
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